Can't believe shipping costs

[Tbitty]

My South African taxidermist quoted me a stupid high amount last month for shipping my trophies.
I asked him to get a quote from https://www.ahgshipping.com/

AHG came back 40% less than his usual shipping company.

He then went back to his usual shipping company and they beat AHG by a $100 and asked if we could use them. I agreed. But pushing back saved me way over $1000.

I was about to post a similar event and suggestion. Saved about $800 using AHG on my shipment in progress.

To the OP- that seems high, but not completely ridiculous given current fuel markets. You could certainly save on shipping costs to have the pedestal base built by a local taxidermist or wood-worker near you. Or by doing a shoulder / wall pedestal mount. That pedestal base adds a lot of volume to your crate and therefore more cost.

 

[Sabre]

My South African taxidermist quoted me a stupid high amount last month for shipping my trophies.
I asked him to get a quote from https://www.ahgshipping.com/

AHG came back 40% less than his usual shipping company.

He then went back to his usual shipping company and they beat AHG by a $100 and asked if we could use them. I agreed. But pushing back saved me way over $1000.

It would frustrate me that by getting another quote the original shipper could now magically do the same shipment for way over $1,000 less. Because that means they were knowingly taking advantage of me the first time.

I hate that stuff. Getting something shipped back shouldn't be like negotiating a car sale.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

Seems like the consensus is to forgo the actual pedestal and get another quote, sounds like AHG is who I should get a quote from and use it to hopefully get a better rate or shipper altogether.

I'm already torn between the pedestal and shoulder so maybe I just do the shoulder mount. Although the taxidermist did say they can prep the shoulder mount with a hole at the base of the mount if I wanted to go that route which I thought was interesting.

I'll undoubtly go back to Africa in the future but not committed to any date currently so I'd rather get it over sooner than later once its finished. Granted the mount hasn't been started so that could change by the time its completed.

 

[Sabre]

Seems like the consensus is to forgo the actual pedestal and get another quote, sounds like AHG is who I should get a quote from and use it to hopefully get a better rate or shipper altogether.

I'm already torn between the pedestal and shoulder so maybe I just do the shoulder mount. Although the taxidermist did say they can prep the shoulder mount with a hole at the base of the mount if I wanted to go that route which I thought was interesting.

I'll undoubtly go back to Africa in the future but not committed to any date currently so I'd rather get it over sooner than later once its finished. Granted the mount hasn't been started so that could change by the time its completed.

I'm curious what led to only wanting the Kudu shipped back. Did you only hunt Kudu? You didn't want the Euro mounts of any other animals you hunted if you hunted any?

 

[Hunt anything]

@Kalahari Ferrari , unless you’re 100% sure on a plain shoulder mount I would get a wall pedestal mount done. If later on you want you can easily have a pedestal made or buy one from a taxidermy supply shop and put it on it.

I’ve shopped with McKenzie taxidermy supply and they could have just what you want. I put a blesbok WP mount on one of their faux termite mounds and I think it turned out pretty well with some added vegetation.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

If you are close to Houston, it approvals much cheaper to drive down and pick it up there.

 

[coreydb]

Sad but true. I just received a crate of trophies from SA; over 300kg, and it cost me as much as my hunt.

 

[dchum]

Find another shipping company and get another quote.
Agreeing with first price is how they get you.

These shipping companies love a fat margin lol.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

I'm curious what led to only wanting the Kudu shipped back. Did you only hunt Kudu? You didn't want the Euro mounts of any other animals you hunted if you hunted any?

This was a non-guided hunt on a family farm and Kudu was the only thing I shot this trip. Makes it a little easier to stomach the shipping costs since it didn't cost anything on my end but I still want to a make the most economical decision.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

@Kalahari Ferrari , unless you’re 100% sure on a plain shoulder mount I would get a wall pedestal mount done. If later on you want you can easily have a pedestal made or buy one from a taxidermy supply shop and put it on it.

I’ve shopped with McKenzie taxidermy supply and they could have just what you want. I put a blesbok WP mount on one of their faux termite mounds and I think it turned out pretty well with some added vegetation.

Unless I misinterpreted, the taxidermist I reached out to mentioned they can make the standard shoulder mount also be fit for a pedestal so that route is appealing. Particularly as I hope it'd reduce the shipping costs.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

If you are close to Houston, it approvals much cheaper to drive down and pick it up there.

I was leaning that option before posting this but it was mentioned the port fees might make it as if not more expensive than air. For me it'd be a day trip to pick it up which I wouldn't mind if the savings were significant.

 

[Hunt anything]

Here’s a kick in the pants for all of us.
Looking through some old shipping/clearance from back in 2014.
Buffalo , cape, skull and feet
Sable , skull, cape and back skin
Chobe bushbuck, skull and cape
Nyala, skull, cape and back skin
Warthog, cape and skull
Lichtenstein hartebeest, skull and cape
Common reedbuck, skull
Shipping on Delta (last year Delta would carry any big five) from Mozambique to South Africa to Atlanta to taxidermist in Michigan $1654.00
Clearance by D&L customs brokers &450.00
Total $ 2104.00

I have a shipment that should be ready soon, not excited to see the final bill on this one. Finished taxidermy.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

Here’s a kick in the pants for all of us.
Looking through some old shipping/clearance from back in 2014.
Buffalo , cape, skull and feet
Sable , skull, cape and back skin
Chobe bushbuck, skull and cape
Nyala, skull, cape and back skin
Warthog, cape and skull
Lichtenstein hartebeest, skull and cape
Common reedbuck, skull
Shipping on Delta (last year Delta would carry any big five) from Mozambique to South Africa to Atlanta to taxidermist in Michigan $1654.00
Clearance by D&L customs brokers &450.00
Total $ 2104.00

I have a shipment that should be ready soon, not excited to see the final bill on this one. Finished taxidermy.

Dang I'm just hoping to get one mount for that price

 

[Huntforever]

It would frustrate me that by getting another quote the original shipper could now magically do the same shipment for way over $1,000 less. Because that means they were knowingly taking advantage of me the first time.

I hate that stuff. Getting something shipped back shouldn't be like negotiating a car sale.

It has gotten out of control!! I love africa and the people but most of them believe All US hunters are rich. Greed has swept in and taken hold of the industry.

 

[Rare Breed]

I don’t think that’s unreasonable today for a pedestal kudu. If you went euro mount or dip and pack I’d expect around $1000 shipping. Unfortunately, the price to clear 1 kudu (dip and pack or full mount) or 10 animals will largely be the same. Likely another $1000-$1500. If you’ll ever hunt Africa again, I’d wait for a return trip and ship this 1 kudu with your next shipment. Hunting Africa for only one animal or only exporting one animal really isn’t economical.

A pedistal wall mount is a great choice versus a floor pedistal as you have found costs a fortune. you would be so much better letting Africa taxi do the pedistal mount animal then have the base done in US big difference in cost

 

[Rare Breed]

I've never had taxidermy shipped before so after recently getting the projected shipping quotes from SA to USA outlined below it came as a shock. I knew it wasn't going to be cheap but at this rate it's considerably more than the cost of the projected taxidermy work.

Do these prices seem reasonable based on todays market?

Keep in mind this would be for just one kudu pedestal mount so I'm wondering how much the shipping cost would drop if I did just a standard shoulder mount or a euro mount. Or just dip&pack it back to the USA and have taxidermy done here would drop the cost.

I'm in DFW but would drive down to Houston to pick it up assuming the cost savings are close to the difference below. However I don't know the logistics on picking it up at a port versus having it straight delivered to my house.

Would appreciate any advice, thanks in advance.


Air Delta - DFW Airport: $3896
Air Turkish - DFW Airport: $4616
Ocean - Houston Port: $2451

Size (Dimensions – DIMS):​	200 x 100 x 100 CM
Gross Weight:​	150.0 KG
Chargeable Mass:​	333.0 KG

If I get my leopard i. two weeks in Namibia i am haven full rug made with black felt and the full skull atta he’d to the rug

 

[Hunt anything]

If I get my leopard i. two weeks in Namibia i am haven full rug made with black felt and the full skull atta he’d to the rug

That’s OLD SCHOOL and a great option.

 

[DHH45]

That seems very heavy. The pedestal weight maybe?

I had buff skull and hide. Impala. Kudu skulls. Only weighed 90kg

ALL of my trophies that are going on Pedestals I have shipped to my home with the re-bar stick out. I purchased my pedestal's State side and they are not cheap. My state side taxidermist helps me. Bless him,!

 

[tay50]

I just had a mounted cape buffalo, sable and zebra shipped from SA, my original quote from the shipper the taxidermist suggested was $5500. I called AGH Shipping they shipped it for $3100 to Chicago, Coppersmiths did the paper work $1530, and I drove down from Michigan last Monday to pick it up. My crate weighed in at 135 kilos or 300 pounds. Hope this helps.

 

[Doug3006]

I had the taxidermist mount my Sable for a pedestal but bought the pedestal in the States. Saved a ton on shipping. If I have another pedestal mount made, I’ll make my own base.